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I have lived through President Richard Nixon being elected twice (1968 and 1972). I suffered through Mr. Nixon's cover-up of Watergate...and the embarrassment he caused our nation on August 9th, 1974 - the resignation of the 37th President of the United States.
I agonized through two terms of President George W. Bush (2001 to 2009)...and his fingerprints that destroyed America's economy...as our nation struggled through the worst financial disaster since "The Great Depression." And I cried - along with millions of other Americans - when...on Mr. Bush's watch...our red, white and blue soil was blackened by terrorism on September 11th, 2001...killing nearly 3-thousand innocent souls and injuring more than 6-thousand others - a day of tragedy that might have been avoided if President Bush had listened to certain advisers prior to the 9/11 attacks.
But despite all of the above...I have never, ever seen or heard...any Americans...threaten a revolution...because his or her Presidential candidate...didn't win The White House on election day. That is...until now. More and more supporters of Donald Trump...are promoting acts of hostile violence...if the Republican nominee is not victorious on November 8th.
At a town hall meeting in Newton, Iowa - on Tuesday, October 11th - a woman identified only as "Rhonda"...told GOP Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Mike Pence..."If Hillary Clinton gets in, I myself, I'm ready for a revolution because we can't have her in."
Worse than a revolution...is the treacherous talk of assassination. The Boston Globe says that at a rally in Cincinnati, Ohio - on Thursday, October 13th - Trump voter, Dan Bowman made known that "If (Hillary Clinton's) in office, I hope we can start a coup. She should be in prison or shot. We're going to have a revolution and take them out of office, if that's what it takes. There's going to be a lot of bloodshed."
And on Tuesday, October 18th...NBC News Correspondent Jacob Rascon interviewed Trump backers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rascon asked..."What do you think will happen if Hillary Clinton wins?" One man answered, "I believe there'll be a civil unrest. And I believe there should be."
This is dangerous conversation that needs to stop. A Bloomberg News poll says 56% of Donald Trump supporters feel the election is "rigged." And it is the fault of Trump himself...that voters are threatening to incite violence if Mrs. Clinton is triumphant.
As we get closer
and closer to election day...the reality of Americans choosing our first woman President is becoming more credible. We are a democracy. So if Hillary Clinton succeeds in putting 270 or more electoral votes in the Democratic nominee's column...then the former Secretary of State will be the 45th President of our nation. It's as simple as that. And if that happens...Trump needs to immediately recognize the results and graciously concede the election.
We - as a country - are entering hazardous territory... should certain supporters of Donald Trump - or Trump himself - spearhead riots in the streets on November 9th. But I cannot believe...if the real estate mogul is defeated by Secretary Clinton...that there would be rebellious marches with nationwide lawlessness...to protest the election. Oh there might be "the lunatic fringe"...but I would be shocked...and stunned...if all - or even most - of those who pull the lever for Trump...decide to declare war on the current Commander-In-Chief (President Obama)...and she who would take office on January 20th, 2017.
Some of you may accuse me of being naive...but my faith in human decency... goes far beyond the possibility of riots and revolution.
Hillary Clinton is the most prepared person to run for President in decades. She has admitted to making mistakes...but so have we all. And so has every single President in our nation's 240-year history. Donald Trump never acknowledges making a mistake.
Anyone who casts their ballot for Trump...is foolish to think...that doomsday will be upon them...if in 11 days...Hillary Clinton is pronounced President-elect. The world will not come to an end with Mrs. Clinton as our President. In fact...if Secretary Clinton is elected...Republicans need only to give her the chance she deserves. They will then discover...that a President Hillary Clinton...will move the United States in a forward direction...that will benefit all Americans...especially the middle-class and the poor. And women...well, that goes without saying. But because of Trump's rude and disrespectful behavior toward the females of our species...Mrs. Clinton is - without question - your only logical choice for President.
There will be no Armageddon during the four years...or the eight years...of a President Hillary Clinton Administration. Americans overall...are too smart to think differently. What most of our country also realizes...is that Donald Trump is unfit to be handed the nuclear codes...and the keys to The White House. If voters did allow the billionaire businessman to take a seat behind The Oval Office desk...the chances are likely...that he would provoke and trigger a military conflict overseas. And based on the demented thinking that I have observed over the course of the last sixteen or so months...Trump could easily take America...to DEFCON 1. And then...God help us all.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of
GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B.
Duglin.
One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to
publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject
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Photo credits: The New York Times and bigmart73.files.wordpress.com (The New York Times Headline), Huffington Post and huffpost.com (Former President Richard Nixon), Wikipedia and wikimedia.org (Former President George W. Bush), federaljack.com (World Trade Center Towers on 9/11), newyorker.com (Republican Nominee for President, Donald Trump), Huffington Post and huffpost.com (Republican Nominee for Vice President and Indiana Governor Mike Pence), NBC News and huluim.com (NBC News Correspondent Jacob Rascon), abcnews.com (Democratic Nominee for President and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #1), maryjoyce.com (President Barack Obama) and akomanet.com and motherjones.com (Democratic Nominee for President and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #2)
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin and
TheControversy.net. All Rights
Reserved.
After reading the commentary
below, please express your own thoughts. Instructions on how to do so are
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There are hundreds of thousands of people - some of whom call a cardboard box their home - who are living on the streets in cities across the United States. There are families - including children - who are starving for food...eating out of dumpsters because otherwise they don't eat at all. Homeless and hungry. Why in America?
The National Alliance To End Homelessness says...more than one-half-million people are homeless on a given night in the U.S.A. Why in America?
And DoSomething.org reports U.S. government statistics...that 1 in 6 Americans go hungry everyday. Why in America?
The Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians are the 2016 National and American League Champions. And the athletes of those two teams will face each other in the Major League Baseball World Series beginning on Tuesday, October 25th. But for a fan to attend Wrigley Field in "The Windy City"...(starting with Game 3)...and to watch the Cubs and Indians play...will cost - according to ESPN - between about 2-thousand and nearly 25-thousand dollars for each ticket. Why in America?
ESPN reports that one spectator purchased 4 box seats...along the first base line at the Cubs home stadium...for Game 5...for an unreasonable 17,950 dollars apiece. And another fan bought 4 tickets for Game 7...in the first row behind the Cubs dugout at Progressive Field in Cleveland...for an exorbitant 24,500 dollars each. If there isn't a Game 7, the buyer will receive a full refund.
I realize this is America...but I find it most disturbing...and absolutely disgraceful...that a baseball club can charge the amount of money equal to the cost of a house...several cars...or a 4-year education at a fine college or university...so that four people can watch one single baseball game.
Add it up yourself. The fan - noted above - who paid 24,500 dollars a ticket... shelled out 98-thousand dollars for 4 seats. Obviously, this is a person who can afford that kind of money. But not too many of us can.
Suppose the price of the tickets were not so outlandish. Let's say the tickets were only one-hundred dollars each...or even one-thousand dollars apiece - which is still a lot of money to see a baseball game. But for argument sake, I'll use the higher figure of four-thousand dollars for 4 tickets. Perhaps that individual could donate 94-thousand dollars to charity, so that many thousands of people could eat.
I find it outrageous - in fact, disgusting - that there are people in our country... who are actually willing to spend thousands and thousands of dollars...for a ticket to see a baseball game.
Oh I know the Cubs haven't been in a World Series in 71 years...and the team hasn't won the world championship since 1908. But give me a break. To spend almost 100-thousand dollars for four people to attend a baseball game...is insanity.
Now don't get me wrong. I love baseball. But regular season games are too expensive, as it is. Sure...inflation raises the prices of everything. But not this much.
A short 50 years ago...my dad would take me to Yankee Stadium in New York City to watch Mickey Mantle and our beloved "Bronx Bombers"...and bleacher seats were only 75 cents each. And - in 1966 - a lower box seat at "The House That Ruth Built" cost just three-fifty. That's three dollars and fifty cents. But here's the really amazing difference... from not too long ago...to today's prices. According to Baseball-Fever.com...37 years ago at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland...a reserved seat for the 1979 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Orioles...had a price tag of only 12 dollars. Not 12-hundred dollars. Not 12-thousand dollars. But 12 bucks. There is no logical reason that any 2016 World Series ticket at Wrigley Field should attack a person's bank account for up to 25-grand per ticket. It's unconscionable. And before you decide to criticize me... remember I wrote..."There is no... logical reason."
Tickets to a World Series game should be affordable so that the average family - with a mom, dad and a couple of kids - can go see their favorite team in person...or that a group of teenagers can create a special memory for their youth...without it costing an arm and a leg. Tickets should not be so expensive that only wealthy people can go to the stadium.
I'll quote a comment by someone - identified as "Walkabout" - who I don't know, but who posted remarks on the CNBC Website. "I've got the best seat in the house, my house that is. Big screen TV, beer fridge, nachos and noisy friends. Top that MLB." A nice sentiment, but "Walkabout"...or anybody else...should have the opportunity - if they so desire - to actually be at Wrigley Field...or any baseball stadium...any year...and not have to pay thousands of dollars to see a World Series game.
Baseball is America's national pastime...for ALL Americans...not just the national pastime...for the super-rich.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of
GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B.
Duglin.
One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to
publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject
for which the author is writing. The Controversy is being read by a tremendous
amount of people throughout the United States of America and all around the
world. If you agree or disagree with my commentary...your views are welcomed.
Tell me that you find pleasure in reading
what I write...or that it's not your
"cup of tea." Give your name...make up one...or remain anonymous if you
prefer. The Controversy is your outlet to speak your mind and to say what you
want about the topics discussed. Please share The Controversy with others by
posting it on Facebook, Twitter and on other social media forums. Please also
pass a link to everyone in your e-mail directories. The Controversy wants to
know your thoughts on the column above or on any other editorial or essay
written on this blog.
Now, please express your opinions. Just click
on the word "Comments" below and write your remarks in the box that appears.
Make sure please that when you finish your statement that you click on the word
"Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you for reading The
Controversy.
Photo credits: Pinterest and pinimg.com (Mickey Mantle #1) and famoussportspeople.com (Mickey Mantle #2)
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin and
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Reserved.
After reading the commentary
below, please express your own thoughts. Instructions on how to do so are
written at the bottom of this column below my photograph. Thank
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If Donald Trump has a bugler on staff...he should instruct that person to play taps. Because at the third and final Presidential Debate, Trump slammed shut and then nailed his campaign coffin closed, so that it is now ready for burial.
The Republican nominee's campaign hearse should be positioned for its motorcade...to proceed en route to the cemetery...following Trump's disqualifying moment on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas debate stage - Wednesday night, October 19th, 2016 -
when the real estate mogul refused to answer moderator Chris Wallace's point blank question...if he will "absolutely accept the results of this election." Trump's response was more than disturbing. "I will look at it at that time." But the Fox News anchor elaborated with his crystal clear inquiry - not to imply, however, that Trump is going to be defeated...or that he is going to be victorious - yet reminding him that "there is a tradition in this country" that there "is the peaceful transition of power...that the loser concedes to the winner." Wallace tried very hard to give Trump the opportunity to be Presidential...and even though he hasn't been all throughout his campaign...Trump blew it big-time. Instead of reacting to the veteran journalist in a positive, gracious and graceful manner...Trump doubled-down. "I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense."
But Trump didn't end it there. He - for some sick reason - wanted his campaign funeral to be extended in to a second day. On Thursday, October 20th, Trump made matters worse when he pledged to abide by the outcome of the election...but only "If I win."
Trump has for some time been spewing venomous allegations that the Hillary Clinton Campaign...the Democratic Party...and the media...have "rigged" the election. And therefore - according to his campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway - Trump will not concede the election...if he loses..."until results are verified." And if Trump is insinuating that the Electoral College must certify the election before he concedes - if he loses - then that wouldn't be until December 19th...which is when the Electors meet. And that would disrespect and demean the American way.
Donald Trump is an embarrassment to the United States. He has brought shame to our country for more than 16 months. But Trump's verbal exchange with Chris Wallace...that he would not definitively acknowledge an acceptance of the voting...is perhaps the most dishonorable words uttered by a Presidential candidate...about the democracy of our nation.
Trump's harrowing statement is unprecedented...and - quite frankly - beyond insanity by the GOP nominee. How dare Trump dispute the decision of our country's citizens! This is not what America is about. But then...nothing Donald Trump has said or done since day one of his campaign for President is what America is about.
Trump's attitude horrendously portrays the American election process as an exercise in cheating...which, of course, it is not. And such behavior by the nominee of the Republican Party is disgraceful. It is the first time in our nation's history that a candidate for President would express allegations of fraud and dishonesty...prior to an election.
"That is not the way our democracy works," Hillary Clinton countered at the debate. The former Secretary of State went on to say..."We've been around for 240 years. We've had free and fair elections. We've accepted the outcomes when we may not have liked them. And...that is what must be expected of anyone standing on a debate stage during a general election. Let's be clear about what he is saying and what he means. He is denigrating. He's talkin' down our democracy. And I, for one, am appalled that somebody who is the nominee of one of our two major parties would take that kind of position."
Later that same night...speaking to reporters aboard her campaign aircraft, Secretary Clinton bluntly noted that "somebody wins and somebody loses." And the Democratic nominee called Trump's remarks..."horrifying."
Donald Trump has been tagged as...unfit...offensive...hateful...a bully...a narcissist...a misogynist...and a xenophobe...among other labels. But I have come up with a two-word phrase that perfectly describes Donald Trump. He's an obnoxious jerk.
Throughout three debates, Trump has vigorously attempted to rattle Hillary Clinton, but he has failed each and every time. She - on the other hand - has obviously gotten under his skin. However...not even with Trump's interruptions and lies has Mrs. Clinton appeared bothered. That is to say until The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.
The Al Smith Dinner is intended to be an evening of fun with self-deprecating humor by the two Presidential nominees. On Thursday night, October 20th, Trump began his "stand-up comedy act" and was, in fact, funny...and, at times, hilarious. But that was only for the first part of his monologue. Trump then became vicious...as if he was at one of his campaign rallies. He personally attacked Secretary Clinton with downright despicable language, which was inappropriate for the time and place. Trump was loudly booed by many of the distinguished Americans who attended the annual white-tie event at the luxury Waldorf Astoria in New York City. And Mrs. Clinton seemed rightfully irritated.
A fundraiser for Catholic charities, the Al Smith Dinner supports "the neediest children of the Archdiocese of New York, regardless of race, creed, or color." And despite the fact that the formal affair is hosted by His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan - the Archbishop of New York - who was seated next to Mrs. Clinton...Trump got down and dirty...slinging slanderous slurs at his Democratic opponent.
"Hillary is so corrupt...she got kicked off The Watergate Commission. How corrupt do you have to be to get kicked off The Watergate Commission? Pretty corrupt?" - Donald Trump
"Hillary believes that it's vital to deceive the people...by having one public policy...and a totally different policy in private. Here she is tonight...in public...pretending not to hate Catholics." - Donald Trump
And..."Everyone knows, of course, Hillary's belief that 'It Takes A Village'...which only makes sense, after all, in places like Haiti...where she's taken a number of them." - Donald Trump
Yes. Donald Trump is an obnoxious jerk...and one who has no business representing a generally well-respected Republican Party.
Towards the conclusion of the debate in Las Vegas...Chris Wallace presented a question about raising taxes to save Social Security and Medicare. Let us all remember that Donald Trump - earlier in the debate - admitted...inadvertently as it may have been...that he has not paid income taxes for years...which confirms an October 1st report by The New York Times. So Hillary Clinton answered Wallace's question. "We need to put more money in to the Social Security Trust Fund. That's part of my commitment to raise taxes on the wealthy. My Social Security, payroll contribution will go up...as will Donald's...assuming he can't figure how to get out of it." Well...while Secretary Clinton continued to speak...Trump interjected..."Such a nasty woman."
Not that we needed any additional confirmation that Donald Trump should not be allowed anywhere near The White House...his over-the-line insults at both the Las Vegas debate and The Al Smith Dinner...have hopefully convinced more and more Americans to decide that Hillary Clinton is the only person to vote for...to be elected the 45th President of the United States.
As I've said elsewhere in this column...Donald Trump is an obnoxious jerk. And in nearly two-and-a-half centuries...America has never been subjected to anyone running for President...like Donald Trump. And please God...we never will again.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of
GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B.
Duglin.
One of the chief goals of a blog...one of the major reasons to
publish a blog...is to entice others to express their opinions about the subject
for which the author is writing. The Controversy is being read by a tremendous
amount of people throughout the United States of America and all around the
world. If you agree or disagree with my commentary...your views are welcomed.
Tell me that you find pleasure in reading
what I write...or that it's not your
"cup of tea." Give your name...make up one...or remain anonymous if you
prefer. The Controversy is your outlet to speak your mind and to say what you
want about the topics discussed. Please share The Controversy with others by
posting it on Facebook, Twitter and on other social media forums. Please also
pass a link to everyone in your e-mail directories. The Controversy wants to
know your thoughts on the column above or on any other editorial or essay
written on this blog.
Now, please express your opinions. Just click
on the word "Comments" below and write your remarks in the box that appears.
Make sure please that when you finish your statement that you click on the word
"Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you for reading The
Controversy.
Photo credits: CNN, WSMV Channel 4 and worldnow.com (Republican Nominee for President, Donald Trump #1), PBS (Chris Wallace), cnn.com and turner.com (Kellyanne Conway), denverpost.com (Democratic Nominee for President and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #1), sacurrent.com and fdncms.com (Republican Nominee for President, Donald Trump #2), nbcnews.com and MSNBC (Democratic Nominee for President and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #2), Yahoo and yimg.com (Democratic Nominee for President and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Republican Nominee for President, Donald Trump and Cardinal Timothy Dolan) and Western Free Press and motherjones.com (Democratic Nominee for President and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton #3)
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin and
TheControversy.net. All Rights
Reserved.
